Monday, July 7, 2008

DUKKAH - EGYPTIAN SPICE BLEND

While at work, during the lunch break, I was going through some women magazines when I came across a recipe for a wonderful seasoning that intrigued me to the highest point. I'm a real sucker for spices and anything which's function is to perfume, flavor or enhance dishes, so there was no way that I wasn't going to try it...

I photocopied the page where the recipe was and took my precious little bounty back home. I was all ecxited by my find. A few days later, I finally tested it and I must say that I was blown away by my discovery!

"Dukkah" is a highly versatile Egyptian spice blend made of coarsely ground nuts and finely powdered seeds that have been previously roasted. The combination of those ingredients vary depending on the cook as there is not one mix existing, but many. It can somehow be compared to it's Israeli/Palestianian/Lebanese/Jordanian cousin called "Za'atar".

"Dukkah" has been part of the Egyptian cuisine since the time of the Pharaohs and is used throughout the Middle East. Traditionally, it is eaten by dipping fresh "Eesh Baladi" bread (see recipe 1 & recipe 2) into olive oil and then into the nut/seed spice mixture.

This spice mix is really terribly addictive, delightfully fragrant and unique. With it's pleasant crunch and scrumptious smoky taste, it transforms any simple dish into something original and extremely flavorful. Heavenly aromatic!

Taste it and you'll adopt it!!!~ Dukkah ~Recipe taken from the magazine "Australian Women's Weekly", November 2007 and adapted by Rosa @ Rosa's Yummy Yums.

Remarks:If you don't want to use a mortar and pestle to grind the seeds, then I recommend you to use 20g ground coriander and 2 Tbs ground cumin that's you'll very lightly toast/roast until fragrant. Be very careful, not to burn the spices!Store in airtight jars/containers for up to a month.

Serving suggestions:Dukkah is delicious with olive oil and bread, sprinkled over salads, hard boiled eggs, vegetables, pasta dishes, dips or soups."Dukkah" can replace breadcrumb dressing and can be used to coat meat, fish, seafood, tofu steaks or slices of cheese, etc..

You know you're really passionate (read crazy :) ) about blogging when you think of it at work and when you call a photocopied page as 'precious bounty' :D

Being from India, we come across a whole host of spices but I've never seen/heard of this combination of nuts, sesame and spices before. I love the aroma of hazelnuts alone (thats my favorite coffee flavor :) ) so I can imagine how fragrant this spice must be. Enjoy :)